Is there a quick introduction on the basics of Outlook True Archive?

Yes. Follow this link to see a Flash tutorial of about 65 seconds – you will be up and running after that! (395k, opens a new window and uses Flash.)

How can I create a new PST (and what is it)?

Click on the ‘*’ button beside the list of destination archives. A .PST file is a store for your mail and other items created by Outlook. The identical file format is used by Outlook True Archive to hold the emails, calendar items, etc. you have selected to archive.

Tutorial video: To see a short demonstration of how to create a new PST file, click here. (120k, opens a new window and uses Flash.)

Where does Outlook True Archive store my archived mails?

Outlook True Archive will archive your emails in the archive file in the ‘Destination’ section of the main Outlook True Archive screen. (See Screenshots and select “Create archive”.)

How can I access my archived mails?

After you archive your emails to a PST file, you can easily open them in Outlook in the same way as your non-archived mails.

I have archived my mails but I do not see a way to select them in Outlook.

In Outlook, select “View” and ensure “Navigation Pane” is selected.

Tutorial video To see a short demonstration of how to view your archived items in Outlook, click here. (110k, opens a new window and uses Flash.)

How can I tell OTA to always backup email more than 1 year old?

Click on the “Configure” button. Select the appropriate period for the “Archive mail older than” setting. Each time you start OTA it will automatically calculate the appropriate end date for the period you set.

Why is my unread mail not being archived?

Make sure you have selected “Include unread messages” in the “Content Filter” area before starting the task.”

Does OTA preserve the folder structure of Outlook?

Yes. OTA will try to recreate your folder structure in the destination PST.

Can I make a copy of my email rather than archive it?

Yes. Select “Copy Messages” in the Task dropdown list.

Some users have reported they have used this option, while they learned about the many options available in Outlook True Archive. (Easier to delete a copied mail than recover a mail deleted by accident.)

Can I archive mail based on a keyword search?

Yes. Click on the “More” button in the “Content Filter” area and enter the keywords in the “Body Contains” field.

Can I just archive mail that has large attachments?

Yes. In the “Content Filter” area select an appropriate attachment size for the “Attachments” setting.

How large can a PST file be / is there a limit on PST file size?

Microsoft has set three types of limits on the size of a PST file:

For Microsoft Outlook 2002 and earlier the maximum PST file size is 2 Gigabytes (GB). PST files are in the ANSI format.

For Microsoft Outlook 2003 and later, the maximum default PST file size is 20GB. PST files are stored in the Unicode format.

For the (very) brave and technical, you can choose to override the 20Gb PST file limit, according to Microsoft. Click here for more information. (Link opens new browser window / tab.)

Remember: Your file system also applies a limit, so if you still use FAT16 or FAT32 or (as opposed to NTFS) on the storage device holding or archiving your PST (or OST), be mindful of the maximum file size your storage device operating system allows.

Microsoft’s limits (described above) will apply when moving/copying emails during an archive or copy task in Outlook True Archive. If your archive PST file has reached the maximum file size the best option is to create another archive PST file and use the new (empty) file as your new destination PST in Outlook True Archive.

How do I just archive mails with high importance?

Yes. In the “Content Filter” area click the “More” button and in the “Importance” dropdown select “High”.

Will OTA ignore folders that I have marked as “Do not archive” in Outlook?

No. OTA cannot currently determine which folders you may have excluded from archiving in Outlook. Instead deselect the appropriate folders in the folder tree and make sure that OTA is set to remember your selections.

Will OTA remember the folders I have selected?

Yes. By default OTA automatically selects all folders within a PST for backup. You can change this by clicking the “Configure” button and selecting the appropriate setting for “Folder selection”

Can I export my mail in EML (or another) file format?

Yes. First make sure that EML is selected as the export format. To do this click the “Configure” button and then select the “Folder Export” tab. Make sure “EML” is selected for the “Export format” setting and then close the Configuration dialogue. Select “[Disk Folder]” as the destination archive, then select the folder on your disk in which to save the EML files.

Tutorial video To see a short demonstration of how to export to a disk folder in various formats, click here. (460k, opens a new window and uses Flash.)

If I export messages to a disk folder will attachments be preserved?

Yes, if you export in EML or MSG format, then attachments will be preserved.

What are the different Archive tasks?

In the Task dropdown menu there are four different options you can select:

Archive Messages will simply move the messages to the destination location you have selected.

Copy Messages will create a copy of the selected messages in the destination location whilst keeping the original copy in your source PST.

Delete Messages will remove the selected mails from your PST file. For more options on deleting mails, click on the ‘Configure’ button, select the ‘Advanced’ tab and click on the ‘Delete Task’ drop down menu.

Update Timestamp will change the “Last Modified” timestamp of the selected mails to the current time and date. This is an advanced task and should only be performed if you are sure that you need to change the timestamp. For more information see “Microsoft Outlook and the Last Modified timestamp”

Can I use Outlook True Archive to archive items in my OST file?

Outlook True Archive may be used to archive, copy and delete items in your OST file. However it must be noted that using Outlook True Archive to perform date/timestamp changes on items in your OST file is not currently supported.

Can I use OTA to archive items in my Exchange mailbox?

Outlook True Archive may be used to archive, copy and delete items in your Exchange mailbox. However you cannot use Outlook True Archive to perform date/timestamp changes on items in your Exchange mailbox.

Which versions of Outlook does Outlook True Archive support?

Based on our testing and feedback from customers, Outlook True Archive has worked with all versions of Outlook (since Office 2003) encountered so far, so long as they are the 32-bit version.

Outlook True Archive is a Windows program and as such will not work on an Apple Mac nor Linux operating system (OS).

How do I enter my registered name / license key?

Tutorial video To see a short demonstration of how to enter your registered name and license key, click here. (165k, opens a new window and uses Flash.)

OTA displays an activation error – is there an alternative way to activate the software?

This can arise where something is blocking the activation request such as anti-virus software or rules in a router or firewall. Manual activation is possible, as follows:

Start Outlook True Archive

Click on the grey “Configure” icon at the top right hand side to open the ‘Configuration’ screen

Hold down the [Control] key and click on the license tab

Enter your Registered Name and License key details and the click the ‘Manual Activation’ button.

A new page will open, select ‘Activate using a web browser on this computer’ and click ‘Next’.

Click on the URL link on the next page and a web page with the Installation ID pre-populated will open.

Click ‘Submit’ and you are given an ‘Activation Code’.

Now go back to the manual activation dialogue, click ‘Next’ and copy the activation code into the available fields (you can copy the whole code at once).

Now click on ‘Activate’, (take a note of the installation ID and Activation Code for your records), and then on ‘Done’

There is a separate page for many other questions related to activation – click here.

Outlook True Archive – Command Line Switches

OTA can operate unattended via command line switches. You may find it useful to run OTA from your favourite Windows Scheduler so that archive tasks are performed at regular intervals.

Enclose all parameters in double quotation marks (ASCII 34) where parameters may include spaces, such as in file names, folder names, paths, subject selections, etc. See examples below.

The following command line parameters are available:

/Auto

Perform an automated task. You must use this switch in order to run OTA in unattended mode.

/T

The task to perform. Use A for Archive, C for Copy, D for Delete, e.g. /T:A

/SA

The source archive. Specify the name of a PST as it appears in the “Source” dropdown list of the OTA screen. E.g. /SA:”Personal Folders”

/SF

Specifies the source folder if you are archiving from a folder instead of from a PST file. E.g. /SF:”C:\MyMail\MyArchiveFolder”

/DA

The destination archive. Specify the name of a PST as it appears in the “Destination” dropdown list of the OTA screen. E.g. /DA:”My Archive”

/DF

The destination folder when exporting to a disk folder. E.g./DF:”C:\My Documents\Exported Mail”

/AP

The archive period. This can be specified in two ways: To archive items up to a date relative to the current date, specify a number followed by d, m, w or y. For example /AP:7d would archive all items dated up to 7 days ago. And /AP:6m would archive all items dated before the 1st of the month six months previous. /AP:2y would archive all items dated before the current date 2 years ago.

To specify an absolute date range use the format /AP:yyyymmdd-yyyymmddA. For example: /AP:19981105-20140611A would archive all items between the 5th November 1998 and the 11th June 2014.

Make sure to include the A after the second date!

/UR

Include unread messages or not. Use /UR:Y for Yes, /UR:N for No

/FS

Mail subject. E.g. /FS:”*invoices 2014*”

/FF

“From” email address. e.g. /FF:”*@outlooktruearchive.com”

/FT

“To” email address. e.g. /FT:”first.last@mydomain.com”

/SEL

The selection file which specifies the folders which are not to be processed. If you do not specify a selection file, all folders will be processed.

Please note: The folder list inside the selection file is an exclusion list. Therefore any folder not listed in the SEL file will be included in the task operation.

This is especially important to note when performing a Delete task in OTA.

/FO

Specifies folders to include in the task operation – all other folders will be ignored. Format is /FO:”[FolderName]” To specify multiple folders, separate each folder name with a comma e.g. /FO:“Inbox,TestFolder,Tasks“

To include subfolders the complete path to the folder should be specified, e.g.:

Examples:

This performs an Archive task, moving mail older than 6 months from the “Personal Folders” PST to the “My Archive” PST, including unread mails. The folders.sel file determines which folders are actually processed.

/Auto /T:C /AP:1y /SA:”Personal Folders” /DF:”C:\temp” /UR:Y /EXF:MSG

This exports a copy of mail older than 1 year to the folder C:\Temp, including unread mails. The messages will be exported in MSG format. Filenames will be based on the creation time and subject of each message. All folders in the source PST are processed.

Environment variables may be used with the SA, SF, DA and DF switches. For example, a source mailbox could be defined by /SA:”Mailbox – %username%” where username is defined as the current user’s name.

Product activation for Outlook True Archive [OTA]

What is Product Activation?

Product Activation is a software feature that scans a computer, computes a fingerprint for its hardware, and links a specific product such as Outlook True Archive with the fingerprint.

To see a short demonstration of how to enter your registered name and license key, click here. (200k, opens a new window and uses Flash.)

What information is passed during the Activation Process?

The information transmitted does not include any personal information, nor does it include any information about the software or documents that reside on the computer. Only your Outlook True Archive serial number and the hardware fingerprint are transmitted.

What happens if I change the hardware in the computer?

Minor changes to the computer’s configuration will not affect the activation. Major changes to the computer’s configuration may require reactivation of the software. If you are about to make hardware changes to your computer you should first deactivate Outlook True Archive by un-installing the software. (for very old versions, see “How do I manually release / deactivate the Outlook True Archive license?” below).

How many times can I re-install Outlook True Archive?

You can reinstall Outlook True Archive up to four times.

(However, for very old versions of Outlook True Archive, you must first deactivate your Outlook True Archive license by following the steps outlined in How do I manually release / deactivate the Outlook True Archive license?” shown below.)

Upgrading your computer hardware or moving your license to a new computer

Make a note of your “Registered name” and “License key” which you can find on the “License” tab of the Configuration dialog.

Release the license key on the existing computer How do I manually release / deactivate the Outlook True Archive license?”)

Install Outlook True Archive on the new computer

Run Outlook True Archive

Click on the “Configuration” button

Click on the “License” tab

Enter your “Registered name” and “License key”

Click “Okay”. Outlook True Archive will then activate the software.

How do I manually release / deactivate the Outlook True Archive license?

Start Outlook True Archive.

Click on the “Configuration” button.

While holding down the Control key click on the “License” tab.

Click on the “Release License Key” button.

OTA displays an activation error – is there an alternative way to activate the software?

This can arise where something is blocking the activation request such as anti-virus software or rules in a router or firewall. Manual activation is possible, as follows:

Start Outlook True Archive

Click on the grey “Configure” icon at the top right hand side to open the ‘Configuration’ screen

Hold down the [Control] key and click on the license tab

Enter your Registered Name and License key details and the click the ‘Manual Activation’ button.

A new page will open, select ‘Activate using a web browser on this computer’ and click ‘Next’.

Click on the URL link on the next page and a web page with the Installation ID pre-populated will open.

Click ‘Submit’ and you are given an ‘Activation Code’.

Now go back to the manual activation dialogue, click ‘Next’ and copy the activation code into the available fields (you can copy the whole code at once).

Now click on ‘Activate’, (take a note of the installation ID and Activation Code for your records), and then on ‘Done’

HE Clissmann is a firm based in Dublin, Ireland, founded in 1949. We have been involved in the PC business since 1979. Our first “PC” was a North Star Horizon with 32K of RAM and two floppy disk drives, running CP/M.

What IT work HE Clissmann does now.

We develop solutions with Microsoft tools where there are none available from other developers. One example is why you are on this site – Outlook True Archive.

We have developed many other products and currently market SMSware for the sending of SMS text messages (www.smsware.com). We have a Time and Attendance product in development.

Where we are located (and what else we do).

We are located in our own premises south-west of Ireland’s capital, Dublin. (www.clissmann.com)

As part of our business, established in 1949, we distribute pharmaceutical products to hospitals and pharmaceutical wholesalers and retailers in Ireland.